Take the Pledge.
Etched in the stone of the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Bill Wassmuth proclaims, “Saying ‘yes’ to human rights is the best way to say ‘no’ to prejudice and bigotry.”
Bill, an unlikely human rights hero, was a pastor of St. Pius Catholic Church in Coeur d’ Alene from 1979-1988. During that time, his leadership of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights made him the target of an Aryan nation bombing attack on his home. Leaving the priesthood, marrying and moving to Seattle, Wassmuth served as the founding executive director of the six state Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment from 1989-1999.
As Myrlie Evers-Williams, former chair of the NAACP Board of Directors, wrote, “Standing up together against hate … is a message of courage in the face of bigotry — a message that we need to hear frequently in our country.”
Standing together, we invite you to take the pledge. Commit to saying “yes” to human rights.
Commit to fostering a climate and culture of human rights in your community.
Pledge to Just Say YES to Human Rights, the most basic rights and freedoms that belong to every human being from birth to death, regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, or nationality. Pledge that your words and actions will include:
Equality: YES, I will treat others as equals. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Respect: YES, I will care enough to consider how my words and actions impact others. Whatever our differences, human rights belong to everyone.
Compassion: YES, I will behave toward others with care and generosity. When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone’s rights are diminished.
Justice: YES, I will speak up for the fair treatment of all human beings and empower others to do the same. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.
